Toms River, New Jersey – Electric F-150 trucks at Celebrity Ford of Toms River dealership are not flying off the lot as fast as expected, according to FOX Business’s Jeff Flock. Ford Motor Company announced on Friday that all shipments of 2024 model year F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks have been halted to conduct quality checks due to an unspecified issue.
While shipments of the EV truck began in January, the pause in shipments took effect on Feb. 9, with no indication of when they will resume. A Ford spokesperson declined to disclose the specific quality issue being investigated during the temporary halt on shipments, according to reports by Reuters.
In response to soft demand for EVs in the U.S. auto market, Ford had previously announced a reduction in the production levels of the F-150 Lightning from 3,200 per week to 1,600 per week. The company also plans to decrease the number of shifts at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, impacting approximately 1,400 workers, including reassigning 700 to the Michigan Assembly Plant.
Production of the F-150 Lightning commenced in April 2022, and sales in 2023 exceeded 24,100 units in the U.S., marking a 55% increase from the previous year. The automaker’s decision to pause deliveries of the new F-150 Lightning EV coincides with the shipment of newly designed 2024 gas-powered F-150 pickups to dealers.
Ford anticipates resuming shipments of the gas-powered F-150 trucks in the upcoming weeks after performing thorough quality checks to ensure they meet company standards. The company had initially projected to begin shipments of the gas-powered models in early 2024, and has indicated that the plan is on track.
The decision to halt shipments of the F-150 Lightning reflects Ford’s commitment to maintaining quality standards for their electric trucks and gas-powered pickups alike. The company’s strategic adjustments to production levels and workforce allocations underscore the challenges and opportunities presented by shifting consumer preferences in the auto industry.